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NIHR Senior Research Leader Programme extends to include Allied Health Professionals – applications are now open!

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17 September 2025

From this month, the NIHR Senior Research Leader Programme (SRL) which supports nurses and midwives in England to grow as research leaders and drive improvements in health and social care through research, has extended to include Allied Health Professionals. The 3-year funded programme, which closes applications on 22nd October, allows protected time for research 2 days a week. Applicants need to be working in England with experience in research leadership in health or social care at a local and/or regional level.

Learn more about the Senior Research Leader Programme for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.

Key dates 2025/26

3 September 2025

Applications open

22 October 2025

Applications close

31 January 2026

Results of applications

1 April 2026

Start of programme

As an SRL, you will:

  • make a significant contribution to health and/or care services
  • lead the development of research capacity and capability for nurses, midwives and/or AHPs in your organisation
  • bring together research activities across your organisation to influence your organisation’s Senior Management Team
  • act as an ambassador for the SRL programme and the wider NIHR
  • join a community of SRLs and network with colleagues across England
  • develop and sustain links with universities to optimise the integration of research capacity and capability-building initiatives in partnership
  • work with SRLs and NIHR colleagues, to develop and pilot initiatives related to national research goals and priorities,
  • have a strong commitment and drive to promote equitable and inclusive practices

Cambridge BRC researchers selected for SRL Programme

Antonella Ghezzi, Deputy Director at the NIHR Cambridge Clinical Research Facility and her colleague Alexandra Malyon, Lead Nurse for Research have both secured a prestigious NIHR personal award to join the SRL programme. They will be working on projects aligned to the national healthcare research agenda and raising the profile and importance of clinical and academic research. The programme allows them to build on their knowledge and personal experiences to lead, empower and motivate others to participate in research-related activities that improve patient care.

Antonella Ghezzi said:

I am so proud to be an SRL. This programme will allow me to concentrate on a very relevant topic: the introduction of Advanced Therapies Medicinal Products (ATMPs) in clinical care through research. I am committed to support the NIHR in creating and implementing a supportive infrastructure which will ensure that ATMP innovations are translated into tangible benefits for patients.

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My project will initially focus on identifying current infrastructures, skills, knowledge and build strong partnerships between local and national teams. I would then like to move into creating a centre of excellence and mentorship programme between clinical research facilities (CRFs) which will ultimately support the essential interactions between research and clinical care.

Contact:

Please e-mail if you have any questions about the SRL Programme – srl@nihr.ac.uk

The NIHR Cambridge BRC is part of the NIHR and hosted by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Cambridge. We are at the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Europe’s largest health research area.

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